“If you’ve ever asked a Somali business for records and they tell you: ‘Waxa uu ku jira Excel-ka… but let me look for it😂😂,’ you already know why audit matters.”
When you work with organizations every day, you start to see something clearly:
audit is not a paperwork exercise — it’s nation-building. And honestly, that’s the part many people still don’t understand.
For years, we’ve struggled with weak controls, missing records, and decisions made without proper information. But as our businesses grow and our public institutions mature, the conversation has to change. Somalia cannot move forward without stronger accountability systems.
This is why I believe audit matters more now than ever.
- Audit Rebuilds Trust — And Trust Is Everything
One thing I’ve learned in my work is this:
Nothing grows without trust.
Investors won’t put money in.
Donors won’t commit long-term.
Even employees won’t stay loyal.
Audit helps rebuild that trust by giving leaders real visibility — not assumptions.
From experience, I can tell you that many issues in Somali organizations are not about dishonesty; they’re about not having proper systems. Audit brings order. It gives structure. And it shows whether the numbers actually match reality.
And that alone creates confidence.
- Transparency Helps Both Government and SMEs
People sometimes think audit is only for “big institutions.”
But SMEs face the same challenges: undocumented transactions, cash leakages, and no segregation of duties.
When an SME becomes more transparent, everything changes:
- Banks start taking them seriously
- Investors show interest
- Fraud becomes harder
- The business grows faster
And in the government sector, transparency is what builds public trust. Donors respond better. Budget misuse reduces. Long-term partnerships become possible.
Audit is basically the bridge between where we are and where we want to be.
- Fraud Patterns I Keep Seeing in Somalia — And How to Fix Them
Across different engagements, the same issues appear again and again.
Anyone working in audit here will recognize these immediately:
🔸 Revenue leakage — especially cash not recorded properly
Usually from manual processes or one person handling everything.
🔸 Ghost employees and inflated payrolls
Happens when HR and finance don’t talk to each other.
🔸 Procurement without proper approval
This is extremely common, especially in NGOs and SMEs.
🔸 Financial statements that don’t reflect the real picture
Pressure to look “better” than the actual performance.
How audit helps fix these:
- Segregation of duties
- Clear approval workflows
- Regular reconciliations
- Strong procurement controls
- Data analytics to catch unusual patterns
From global studies — and also from what I see practically — a strong internal audit function cuts fraud risk by 40–60%.
- What Other Countries Did Right — Lessons for Somalia
Countries that managed to reduce corruption didn’t do it by chance. They invested in strong systems.
Some countries built a disciplined national audit office and strict follow-ups. The impact is visible everywhere.
Other companies Digitized everything early and created a culture of zero tolerance for misuse.
Others also, elevated internal audit and reformed procurement laws.
The lesson is simple: audit reform is development reform.
Somalia can do the same — step by step, system by system.
- Good Governance Drives Real Economic Growth
Governance is not a cost. It’s the foundation.
When organizations follow proper controls, encourage ethical leadership, and publish transparent reporting, you immediately see the difference:
- Investors trust them
- Operations become smoother
- Fraud drops
- Growth becomes sustainable
We cannot build a strong economy on weak systems.
Somalia’s long-term progress depends on accountability — both in the public and private sectors.
Conclusion: Audit Is How We Build Stronger Institutions
Audit is not about catching people.
It’s not about fear.
It’s about clarity.
It’s about knowing how an organization is really performing.
It’s about protecting resources.
It’s about building institutions that can survive beyond individuals.
For me, audit is part of nation-building.
And as Somalia moves forward, we need this mindset more than ever.
If Somalia wants stronger institutions, stronger companies, and stronger public trust — audit is the starting point, not the ending point.”
AIFA,
Mastering What Matters Today.
ayub
Shirkado badan waxay ku shaqeeyaan dukumentiyo yar, lacag caddaan ah oo badan, iyo kala sooc la’aan hawlaha shaqada. Internal audit wuxuu caawiyaa in la ogaado dhibaatooyinka ka hor inta aysan isu rogin khasaare dhaqaale ama khatar u hoggaansan la’aan.
Maxamed Axmed
“Maqaalkani wuxuu iga fahamsiiyay sida muhiimka u tahay diyaar-garowga audit-ka. Qodobbada aad soo jeedisay waa wax aan si toos ah ugu dabaqi doono shirkaddayda
Hodan Cali
“Waxaan jeclaystay sida aad u sharaxdeen farqiga u dhexeeya external iyo internal audit-ka. Tani waa macluumaad ay u baahan yihiin ganacsatada Soomaaliyeed.”